Kay Bailey Hutchison announced today that she will not be seeking re-election for her Senate position. According to Hutchison, she has known this for quite some time. Considering the fact that she ran against Rick Perry for the governorship last year, I doubt that is really the case. However, I welcome her departure for whatever reason it has come about.

The two contenders for the spot are both more suitable, but not by much: David Dewhurst is the current Lt. Gov of Texas and a presumptive heir to the Hutchinson throne. Dewhurst’s resumé doesn’t strike me as particularly impressive. From what I can derive, his major legislative contributions have been largely social (think proposing the death penalty on second-time child predators). I’m just as skeptical about the other rumored contender, Tom Leppert, the current mayor of Dallas. Between his indoor smoking bans, house building ordinances, and taxpayer-funded hotels, he looks more like a Bloomberg “Republican” than a true Texan.

I could easily be wrong and I hope I am. Is anyone a better & more viable prospect for the Hutchison Senate seat from Texas.?

When Hutchinson pretended she was going to run for governor, opening up her seat to a special election, Williams announced his candidacy. He has solid conservative credentials and had Jim DeMint's backing. Then Hutch changed her mind, leaving Williams to twist in the wind.

Kay Bailey seems to have trouble making up her mind. While she claims to be a hard core conservative, some of her votes say otherwise.

Michael Williams was the Texas Railroad Commissioner, one of the most powerful positions in Texas government. Contrary to it's name, the Railroad Commission also oversees the drilling industry, and the oil industry, in Texas. But he's not the only one who has already thrown his hat in the ring; Roger Williams, a TxGOP insider has been campaigning (presumably against KBH) for six months now. No, he is no relation to Michael Williams.

My money is on Michael. He has a lot of strong conservative supporters and will probably be a strong TEA Party favorite. I know I will.

Williams hooked up with the Tea Party fairly early, has refused to accept pay raises in his elected positions several times (and refused pay raises for the public employees under him too)and is the first African-American to win statewide elected office in Texas. Speaking as a Texan- someone who has voted for him and might get to again- I'd love to see him in national office.

You're not wrong about Tom Leppert. He famously pushed the "Trinity River Tollway" project which was all about putting a highway inside the Trinty River bed (between the levees). Completely against common sense, and he was very Bloomberg condescending about the dissent.

Instead, we're working on our own Suspension bridge to nowhere, plus a huge hotel for all that Convention business we no longer get. It's not an especially sane time in Dallas right now.

Michael Williams, Roger Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones will be contenders. They were running in 2010 before KBH changed her mind about leaving the Senate.

Of all the candidates mentioned, the best candidate is Michael Williams. Dewhurst cant be counted out because he has gobs of money and is Lt Gov, but Michael Williams will be the grassroots and Tea Party favorite. He has my support as a strong, articulate conservative.

Bloomberg "Republican" is the exactly correct characterization of Leppert. In his defense, that's about all you're going to get in Dallas — but for Senator? Not only no, but Hell no!

Think of Dewhurst as a Kennedy. Entitled lightweight. He probably has the most money and the best organization behind him, though.

As with several of the above, Michael Williams is my guy. Good positions, good track record, "optics" of near-Rubio quality. I could live with Ted Cruz, but I don't think he has enough backing to get anywhere. He's a lawyer (Solicitor General), therefore not my favorite.

Commissioner Williams is a little too green for me. That's 'green' as in alternative energy with heavy government subsidies! Anyway. With that typed, if Michael Williams makes the cut, I will be one of the first in line to vote for him come 2012..

Tom Leppert is at the bottom of the list of viable candidates. He doesn't have statewide name recognition and after KBH's RINO ways, don't expect us Republicans in Texas to see fit to replace her with another RINO. I would say that the top 3 are Dewhurst, Abbott and Williams.

Williams has been mentioned (and supported) already. He's also still on the Railroad Commission of Texas(not "was" on).

BTW, the RRC no longer has anything to do with railroads- the name is anachronistic. It's Texas' overall energy regulation agency- explains a bit of why some of Mr. Williams' policy record has a green tinge to it. Still, compared to the general field of government energy officials- who tend more green than 'generic' gov't officials- I find him more than acceptable.